NEVER Seen Before Binding Technique | Episode 59

In this episode, The Opinionated Quilter shows you how to bind your quilts in the fastest, easiest never seen before method.

[sharonandrews]

When I first learned to quilt in 1990, I used my serger for a major portion of construction. At the time, I was a newlywed, living in military housing in Honolulu, and hadn’t yet landed a job. Making baby quilts for new mommies at Tripler Army Medical Center was my focus and speed was essential, so I perfected my method. All the quilt tops were made with the same size squares, which were serged together. I cut wider-than-normal binding and ironed the folds such that one side was wider than the other. I serged the binding to the quilt front, folded over and iron, then stitched in the ditch from the front. Rarely did I miss catching the slightly wider binding on the back. When I did, it was a quick four or five stitches plucked out and resewn. The tops were not quilted; with a single stitch I put a length of ribbon onto each block center, tied a little bow, then machine tacked the top of the bow through the quilt so it would never come untied in the wash. Every quilt was different, but they were all unisex and were the cutest things. I was told that several babies were baptized while wrapped in a quilt I made. Occasionally, I’d see one of my quilts out in the wild. Several years after I stopped my production quilting, I saw a mommy with a toddler and an older child in the commissary parking lot. I heard her say, “take your blankie, ” as she handed a baby quilt to the younger child. I recognized it as one I’d made and realized that it was likely given to her when the older child was born. An act of kindness is never wasted, and is returned to you tenfold.

[debbiepyleverhoeven]

I always like to see a new method of binding. My go to binding lately has been a flange binding.

[ROSELYNDUFOUR]

I have a king sized Christmas quilt that has been waiting for binding for 3 years. I'm going to sew it on the back and sew down the front, neat and tidy. Wahoo, it'll be great.

[Korasheena]

Your instructions are so easy to follow and your explanations make a world of difference.

[joanatchley]

I don't have a serger. What works for me is to do a faux piping/flange binding. It is a little more work but it elevates the look of the binding and when you use a thread color to match the flange, you don't see your stitches on top.

[pamcadd]

Maureen, this is the first of your videos that I've watched - thanks YT algorithm for suggesting it! I clicked on it thinking, "Oh, yawn, can there be anything new about binding?" (I've been sewing for 65 years.) Munch, munch, I'm eating my words! This is a great method, and I appreciate your very clear demo. It's a bonus that you also have a Bernina, so I have the feet you discussed. I also love that you are donating to Project Linus, as I do. I'll be watching more of your videos and look forward to learning more from you. 😀

[marisarobertson]

I just found your channel, and you have a new subscriber from Ottawa Canada. I’ve been sewing for 50 years and quilting for 40, but I can always learn something new. I’ve used fusible thread in the bobbin for a very long time, and found it very useful. However, I never thought of using a serger. Brilliant! There’s so much more glue available to be ironed instead of just the one stitch. Keep up the genius ideas, love it! And by the way, keep up the great opinions too! Don’t let anybody push you around!

[abeullah]

Learn something new every Monday. Going to try the method of sewing the binding on the back and then turn and stitch the front. Never new about the fusible thread. Thank you for sharing.

[jericlackett]

I love the use of the serger with the fusible thread on the lower looper. I think I'll try that....

[jennrea]

Flange binding is what I’ve found to work the best and is the easiest. It also gives a nice piped edge finish which gives a very professional looking finish done by machine. Machine bound quilts seem to stand up better to multiple washing. I would like to see your opinion on several topics; thread: polyester vs cotton (piecing, quilting) and batting: polyester vs cotton. Our donation quilts in our guild use polyester batting for charity quilts because it’s easier when washed frequently, warmer, and cheaper. Most of my quilts are flannel backed as well because they are meant for comfort and warmth. I also live in Canada 🇨🇦.

[notesfromleisa-land]

I have successfully used this technique. It's not a never seen before technique, but not oft-seen to be sure. The Wonderfil makes an iron and fuse which works well, but it doesn't go far. The serger goes, it is has a couple of important uses in the sewing room. First, if you have made a quilt top but want/need to move along to another project, you can put a narrow bind on it to keep ends from unraveling. 2nd I like to serge my quilted top before binding to keep edges neat.--and adding iron and fuse in lower loopers is an extra benefit. Because, I prefer the precision of my machine in attaching my binding, I don't combine that step with my serger. I glue baste my binding onto the back of my quilt to include finishing the ends, and then sew with my machine as I prefer the precision of the sewing machine to get a balanced binding. It's wonderful to see different techniques and adopt the pieces we like into our own process.

[bethkoch]

Very interesting binding method! I hate hand-sewing - as I commented on another site, if quilting required a lot of hand-sewing, I would find another hobby, so I learned from the very start to machine stitch my binding. I don't own a serger, so my method is like the last one you showed - to attach to the back, bring around to the front and using matching thread, finish the binding on the front. I make sure the thread on the back matches it, and I'm like Carol - I don't care where the stitches land, as they really don't show if the thread matches. However, I'm intrigued by the idea of the fusible thread, I might try it. I think I saw Nancy Zieman use it in one of her shows years ago.

[elizabethalexander-pukerud]

I love the visible thread idea! I will be using this! Thank you!

[janrichardson]

Interesting method to apply binding but I really prefer sewing the binding on the back and machine stitching down by sewing machine on the top. I always seem to get good results with this method. Thanks for showing this method, always looking to learn something new.❤

[michellerowley]

Finally someone who doesn’t like hand binding! I felt like I was the only one!

[jeannereinisch]

I really enjoy hand sewing the binding on the back side. I’m not worried about wear because I only sew table runners.

[terryannglandon]

I've been quilting for 20 years and never happy with my mitered corners for binding. I did not know until today that you are supposed to sew off the corner at a 45-degree angle. Can't wait to try it.

[saraaronzon]

So glad I found you. I'm a new learner ;)

[suenepa]

I use the serpentine stitch for quilting- I never thought of using it on the binding. I always did it by hand, but my hands are past that, so have been using a zigzag. I did one using the serpentine today, and it looks swell.

[nancylyman]

This is the first new binding idea I’ve heard in years. I’ve NEVER had any success with machine binding, but this might be something that could bring about change. (I WILL have to dust off my serger though.)